What happens when you take an obsessive anime fan and put him in the same room as someone who knows absolutely nothing about the medium? If you ask me, it sounds like a recipe for either a zanny sitcom or a brutal Saw-like horror film that culminates in the anime fan being brutally murdered and dissolved in a bathtub full of industrial strength chemicals.
Or, maybe more likely, you get a poorly produced but mildly interesting (and perhaps occasionally even insightful) blog-a-thon/podcast featuring Brett Woolgar of 42 Review and myself, Tom Clift of Plus Trailers.
In part 2 of our marathon, Brett continues his Clockwork Orange style brainwashing of yours truly as we share our thoughts on three more films from Studio Ghibli: Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke and, arguably the most well known anime film in the West, Spirited Away. We also discuss my growing appreciation for the medium, as well as what we think gives anime it's own unique appeal that cannot quite be matched by either live action films or even American animation.For those of you who don't have time to listen to each of these reviews, I'd at least recommend listening to that discussion (the first of the videos, below). I've also included a sentence or two beneath each video summarizing our overall thoughts on each film. If you missed part 1 of the marathon in which we discuss some of Studio Ghibli's earlier films, you can find it here. Part 3 will be posted in a few weeks (although I said that about part 2 all the way back in January, and look what happened there). Finally, be sure to visit 42 Review and harass Brett in to posting more regularly.
General Discussion/Introduction
Porco Rosso
Tom's thoughts: One of the more comedic of the films. Entertaining enough but certainly not one I'd revisit.
Brett's thoughts: Really fun, with great aerial coreography and music. If you liked Totoro or Kiki, check this out.
Princess Mononoke
Tom's thoughts: A very well paced action/adventure film with great action. Felt like a better, more mature version of Nausicca. The music particuarly stood out.
Brett's thoughts: One of my favourite Ghibli films. The English dub is better.
(Brett has actually written a full length review of Princess Mononoke, which you can find here).
Spirited Away
Tom's thoughts: Up there as one of my favourites; an Alice in Wonderland type adventure.
Brett's thoughts: A great starting point for people unfamiliar with anime.
